Buyer Beware When It Comes to Plowing:

How to Spot the Pros, Dodge the Pretenders, and Protect Your Property This Winter

When the snow starts piling up in Colorado, every truck with a blinking light suddenly becomes a “snow removal expert.” And hey—good for them hustling to make a buck. But here’s the truth no one tells you:

A bad plow job can cost you more than a good storm ever will.

We’re talking driveway gouges, torn-up gravel, damaged culverts, dragged landscaping, bent culvert lips, and even cracked concrete. One wrong angle, one amateur with a bargain-bin plow, and your winter gets a whole lot more expensive.

So let’s talk about how to spot the real plowers from the seasonal impostors… before they turn your driveway into a battlefield.

The Wintertime Masquerade: When Contractors Become “Plowers”

Every year, as soon as the first snow hits, an interesting metamorphosis occurs:

• The guy who builds decks in the summer is now “Rocky Mountain Snow Boss LLC
• The general contractor suddenly has a rusty plow strapped to their half-rotted Dodge
• And yes… the handyman who promised to “figure it out” absolutely intends to “figure it out” using your driveway as practice.

Look, plenty of contractors are great at their main trade—but plowing is its own animal. You can’t fake experience when operating heavy equipment on ice. Not in the mountains. Not on steep driveways. Not near retaining walls. And definitely not when you’re pushing thousands of pounds of snow toward someone’s garage door.

The Equipment Test: The Plow Tells the Truth

Want to spot a real plower? Look at the blade. Professional plows are hydraulic and multi-directional.

A true plow can move:

•  Up
•  Down
•  Left
•  Right
•  With angle adjustments on the fly

This matters because snow rarely falls “straight.” You need angles. You need control. You need finesse.

PRO TIP

If the plow only goes up and down… that’s not a plow. That’s a snow shovel on life support.

These cheap rigs are usually:

•  Old
•  Rusty
•  Barely attached
•  And built for flat suburban pavement—not mountain driveways

If you see leaking hydraulics, rusty cylinders, loose bolts, or a blade that wiggles more than it should… congratulations, you’ve found someone pretending to be a plow operator.

The Truck + Plow Combination: Do They Even Fit?

This one is big, and nobody talks about it. A plow must match the truck—not overpower it and not be too small for it. The plow should be slightly wider than the truck. If it’s narrower, the truck tires will drag snow everywhere and leave messy, uneven paths. If the plow is too big, the truck won’t have the power or weight to safely manage it.

Both situations scream “amateur hour.” Mountain jobs require mountain equipment.

A light-duty “pavement pusher” meant for small grocery store lots won’t cut it on steep mountain grades. If the operator is showing up in a passenger truck with a toy plow…That’s not a plower. That’s an accident waiting for a place to happen.

Pro tip:

If the plow looks like it belongs on Craigslist for $200, don’t let it touch your property.

Insurance: The Question That Separates the Pros From the Pretenders

Plowing requires specialized insurance. Not contractor’s insurance. Not handyman’s insurance. Not “I’ve got coverage, trust me, man.” Snow plow liability insurance is its own category. Ask for it. Demand to see it. Don’t feel weird about it. If they hesitate, change the subject, or give you the “I’ve been doing this for 25 years and never had a problem” speech…

Walk away.

A seasoned plower will happily show you their certificate.

An amateur hopes you never ask.

Experience Matters—Especially Here in Clear Creek County

Plowing a mountain driveway isn’t a side job. It isn’t something you dabble in seasonally like holiday baking.

It’s:

 • Understanding freeze–thaw cycles

 • Managing ice build-up

 • Reading terrain under 12 inches of snow

 • Knowing your escape angles

 • Protecting pavement and gravel

 • Recognizing drift patterns

 • Keeping equipment maintained

You can’t learn this on YouTube the night before a storm. And you can’t fake it with cheap equipment.

Final Thoughts: Protect Your Driveway. Protect Your Wallet.

Every winter, homeowners lose thousands because someone with a plow attachment treated their driveway like an obstacle course.

So before you hire, ask yourself:

 • Does the equipment look professional?

 • Does the plow move side-to-side, or is it a toy with one hydraulic hose?

 • Does the plow fit the truck?

 • Does the operator carry real snow plow insurance?

 • Does the person look like they plow… or a contractor that needs extra cash?

A real plower makes your life easier. A fake one makes your spring driveway repairs more expensive.

Choose wisely—your property will thank you.

If you want help or have questions about choosing the right plow service, Mill Creek Snow Removal is always happy to talk.